doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 1896 Parker question with 9 pictures

WD40 has been mentioned in a couple threads recently. It's been posted here from time to time that WD40 is poison around guns as a preservative.

King,
Where do you get that information? What do you suggest? Jake

Thanks for all the info guys! Wasn't thinking of quitting the day job, just wondering if it is worth dumping any money into! I'll hold off on the WD40 for now until I hear otherwise!

I agree with King. WD40 will harden with age and become a real mess. My gunsmith that retired called WD40 one of his best freinds. When customers filled their 1100's with it and left them to sit for year he would get them in for a complete strip and clean.

I would use any good gun oil. Rem oil is one that is avalilable in almost any gun store and Wal-Mart as well in spray or bottle.

Since you are in the Los Angeles area, the logical place to take the gun for a quick once-over as to condition, value, and whether you should do anything other than clean it would be Jim Thynne at Ivory Beads in West Covina. Jim is probably the most knowledgeable Parker guy in the area, and you can trust his advice. The shop will also have at least 20 other Parkers at any given time that you can compare yours to, just for reference. Ivory Beads is a retail operation and does not do any gunsmithing. Jim can recommend smiths for any inspection, cleaning, or repairs, or can arrange to have those services performed for you.

Freddy Brunner in Escondido is a solid choice for work on this gun, and is less tha two hours away from most of LA. Steve Matthews is the resident gunsmith at Bain & Davis Sporting Goods in San Gabriel, and knows his way around old doubles. Freddy and Steve have both been entrusted with some of my favorite guns.

Regarding the immediate cleaning and oiling, WD-40 is OK for a field wipe down on a rainy day, but I'd rather see you use Rem Oil or CLP, or even 3-in-1 Oil, available at any hardware store. Parker originally recommended 3-in-1 for guns of your vintage, and I still use it. Walt Schiessl (The L.C. Smith Man) recommends Singer Sewing Machine Oil for Elsies because it's easy on the wood while protecting the metal. Put a dab of good grease on the hinge pin or barrel hook. Once you have had the gun inspected and the internals cleaned and lubed (very important on a gun of this age), you should be able to shoot it with some degree of impunity. Listen to your gunsmith.

Thanks a lot for the contacts and info!

Hi there Parkerfan,
Nice gun, I would buy some gun spray oil and clean the bores by spraying some down there and scrub it with a phosphor bronze brush. Then remove the dirt with some kitchen roll.
Then check the bores for pitting, reveling and dents. Then oil with a wool mop. you can clean all the dirt thats around the action and barrels with some of that oil on a rag just to remove dirt and rust deposits and no more as the dull metal look adds $ and keeps it original.
Some gunsmiths rub the outside of the action with steel wool and buff it, this ruins good vintage guns i wish they wouldn't do it.
Your lovely Damascus barrels look as it they could be re browned.
on the woodwork i would clean it with some turps and linseed oil mixed 50/50, rub on with a rag leave it for 30 Min's and the wipe it all off. Thats the best thing for your stock to keep it original.
Get your gunsmith to check the barrels are still in proof by measuring the bores and comparing them to the proof stamps. Also have him measure the barrel thickness as with thin barrels you don't want to put too powerful cartridges through it. Get him to strip, clean and lubricate inside the action as someone else has said.
I think thats about it! all the best with it, post your results as it would be interesting to know.

will post when i get it into and back from whoever i send it to!